(Credit: Netflix)

You know that feeling when a film makes you laugh, then immediately makes you question why you laughed in the first place? That is Four Lions. It is one of those rare comedies that sneaks up on you with ridiculous humour, only to leave you sitting in stunned silence. And if you have not watched it yet, now is your last chance; it leaves Netflix on June 25.

Directed by Chris Morris, Four Lions is a dark satire about a group of British Muslim men who plan a terror attack but can barely plan their own lives. It sounds like a setup for something offensive, but that is where the film flips expectations. What follows is not a punchline aimed downward. It is a sharp, fearless exploration of how lost people cling to purpose, even when that purpose is completely absurd.

The comedy is dark. Not in a trendy, snarky way, but in a deeply committed way. There are scenes so ridiculous that you forget you are watching a film about terrorism. The running gag of the crows, the explosive costumes, and the mispronounced training methods are all deeply absurd, but they never feel careless. The film keeps one foot grounded in emotional truth. These characters are real people. They are foolish, stubborn, emotional, and often desperate. And that is exactly what makes the film so powerful.

Riz Ahmed leads the cast as Omar, a character who is strangely likeable despite his dangerous plans. His relationship with his family, especially his young son, adds a strange softness to an otherwise jagged narrative. Kayvan Novak, Nigel Lindsay, and Arsher Ali all deliver performances that move between slapstick and heartbreak without warning. You are laughing one moment, and then the reality of what they are doing hits you, and it stings.

What Four Lions manages to do better than most satirical films is this: it asks you to care. You may not agree with the characters, but you begin to understand their loneliness, their confusion, and their need to belong to something. That empathy never excuses their choices, but it complicates your reactions. You are not just watching a comedy. You are watching a moral tangle unfold in the most unexpected way.

In today’s climate of extreme caution and constant outrage, Four Lions feels even more audacious. It reminds you of a time when satire dared to be dangerous, when comedy was not just about timing but about taking risks. The film never asks for approval. It simply tells its story with honesty, wit, and a kind of madness that somehow makes perfect sense. Its message about how radicalism often grows from confusion rather than evil feels painfully relevant.

If you have never seen Four Lions, this is your moment. It is not the kind of film that will leave you feeling light or resolved. But it will leave you thinking. And maybe laughing at things you never thought you would. That is the mark of satire done right. It challenges you, entertains you, and refuses to be forgotten.